Pro-Life License Plates Are Driving Me Crazy

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is suing the state of North Carolina because of its new specialty license plates that includes a “Choose Life” option. According to Katherine Lewis Parker, legal director for the ACLU of North Carolina, it’s in violation of the first amendment right to free speech. “We don’t have a problem with the ‘Choose Life’ plate as long as there’s a pro-choice alternative,” she explains. (The ‘Choose Life’ specialty plate is available to drivers for an additional $25, with $15 going to the Carolina Pregnancy Care Fellowship.)

There have reportedly been attempts to introduce alternative plates – including ones that read “Respect Choice” or “Trust Women. Respect choice” – but they’ve been nixed by the Republican-controlled state legislature.

Am I the only one who finds this absurd? As a person who is staunchly pro-choice, I have no problem with someone plastering the words “Choose Life” on his or her license plate. I would, however, have a big problem if I couldn’t do the same – only with my own beliefs. (Not that I’d feel the need to display my viewpoint like that in the first place, but that’s a whole other story.)

This is most definitely a free speech issue – not an abortion issue – as far as I’m concerned. And with $15 from each “Choose Life” plate going directly to a religious organization, the division between church and state is pretty much non-existent. Scary stuff, if you ask me…

(Photo: lifenews.com)